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Here’s an interesting fact: Walking Distance: The average person walks the equivalent of three times around the world in their lifetime!!

Innovation

Blood Test for Strokes

Stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide and the second leading cause of death. Early intervention can mitigate severe consequences, and a new diagnostic tool could significantly improve outcomes.

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have developed a test that uses blood-based biomarkers and a clinical score to accurately identify patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes.

“We have developed an accessible tool that could help ensure more stroke patients receive timely, critical care,” said Joshua Bernstock, MD, PhD, a clinical fellow in the Department of Neurosurgery at the hospital.

Most strokes are ischemic, caused by obstructed blood flow to the brain. LVO strokes, a severe form of ischemic stroke, occur when a major brain artery is blocked. These require immediate treatment with mechanical thrombectomy, a procedure to remove the blockage, to prevent brain cell death and severe disability.

“Mechanical thrombectomy can restore patients to their pre-stroke condition,” explained Dr. Bernstock.

However, symptoms of brain bleeds can mimic those of LVO strokes, requiring different treatments. The new test distinguishes between the two conditions in the field.

The research team targeted two proteins in capillary blood: glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), associated with brain bleeds and traumatic brain injury, and D-dimer. Their study demonstrated that combining these biomarkers with field assessment scores (stroke triage for emergency destination, or FAST-ED) can identify LVO strokes and rule out brain bleeds.

“The sooner this intervention occurs, the better the patient’s outcome,” said Bernstock. The study, published in the journal Stroke, showed that the test identified LVO strokes with 93% specificity and 81% sensitivity within six hours of symptom onset. It also ruled out all patients with brain bleeds.

This tool could be especially valuable in low- and middle-income countries where advanced imaging is unavailable. It might also aid in diagnosing traumatic brain injuries. The team is conducting a prospective trial to test the tool's performance in ambulances and has designed an interventional trial to speed up stroke triage by bypassing standard imaging.

“In stroke care, time is brain,” Bernstock emphasized. “The sooner a patient is on the right care pathway, the better their outcome will be. Our prehospital diagnostic tool is set to be transformative.”

Culture

Titanic Survivor Recalls Disaster

Over a century after the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage, survivor Frank Prentice's first-person testimony remains a stark and gripping account of the terror experienced by those on board.

Frank Prentice, then 23, survived the disaster. Even when interviewed by the BBC 67 years later, he was clearly still haunted by that night. More than 1,500 people died when the Titanic struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean on April 14, 1912.

Prentice, working as an assistant purser responsible for handling money and supplies, relived the events during a 1979 BBC documentary series, The Great Liners. He recalled the moment he first sensed something was wrong:

"There was no impact as such," he said. "It was just like jamming your brakes on the car and that was that – she stopped. We had a porthole open, and I looked out. The sky was clear, stars were shining, the sea was dead calm, and I couldn't understand it."

While this article might not seem positive at first, we are grateful he is here to share his incredible survival story. Hearing from someone who has faced and overcome such challenges is very inspiring!

Check out the interview here:

World News

World’s Deepest Ocean Sinkhole

Sinkholes occur not just on land but also underwater, where they are known as blue holes. Researchers have now identified the deepest blue hole on the planet, so deep they have not yet reached the bottom.

This discovery is the Taam Ja' Blue Hole in Mexico's Chetumal Bay, previously considered the world's second-deepest. Researchers reported in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science that a December scuba diving expedition revealed it to be much deeper than initially thought.

"The TJBH is now the deepest blue hole discovered to date, with depths exceeding 420 meters below sea level, and the bottom remains unexplored," the researchers stated. This new depth, over a quarter-mile below sea level, extends into the mesopelagic zone, also known as the twilight zone due to the limited sunlight.

Earlier estimates placed Taam Ja's depth at approximately 274 meters below sea level, based on echo sounding, which measures the distance sound waves travel. However, the irregular shapes of blue holes and varying water densities limited this method. The latest measurements, using the SWiFT CTD technique to gauge conductivity, temperature, and depth, indicated the bottom was still beyond reach.

This new depth makes Taam Ja' significantly deeper than other known blue holes, such as the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole in the South China Sea (301 meters), the Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas (202 meters), and the Dahab Blue Hole in Egypt (130 meters).

While blue holes might seem ominous, the NOAA describes them as "oasis in an otherwise barren seafloor," teeming with marine life like corals, sponges, mollusks, sea turtles, and sharks. Despite their ecological richness, little is known about blue holes due to their inaccessibility and unpredictable distribution.

Many blue holes have small openings deep underwater, making them difficult for automated submersibles to enter. Initial reports of blue holes often came from fishermen and recreational divers rather than scientists.

Mind Stretchers

❓️ 

I might appear in the night sky, when the Moon is not full but shy. What am I?

Answer to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Oops, We accidentally left out yesterday's mind stretcher. Sorry for the brain lapse! To make up for it, today we're doubling down to bring you even more mind-bending goodness. Thanks for your understanding!
-The Daily Upsider Team 🌞 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.